Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Wednesday September 6, 2023 TOPIC: THE THINGS WE SEE VERSUS FAITH

BIBLE READING:

1 SAMUEL 17:32, 40-47

1 Samuel 17:32 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:40-47 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.  

KEY VERSE:

“David said to Saul, ‘Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him.” 1 Samuel 17:32  

MEDITATION:

The language of the world is “seeing is believing”. This runs contrary to the way of God, our father who wants us to put all our trust in Him. Faith is constant and consistent whereas the things we see are temporal and very fickle. Little wonder, scripture admonishes believers not to walk by sight but by faith, so that they would not be easily swayed or become discouraged in the journey to eternal life.  

From today’s scripture reading, if David had reckoned with the physical appearance of Goliath, the Philistine giant, he would not have dared to take him on. Instead, David only remembered victories God gave him in tendering the flock of his father’s sheep. While Saul and his army which included David’s three eldest brothers saw the giant in Goliath as he presented, David saw a dead man by faith (1 Samuel 17:10-11, 46-47).  

Recall that of the twelve spies Moses sent to survey the Promised Land, ten, a great majority came with a report of the things their eyes could see. Only two, Joshua and Caleb ignored what their saw and chose to believe God who promised them the Promised Land for an inheritance (Numbers 13:25-33). Infact they declared, “for they are bread for us; their defence is departed from them” (Numbers 14:9). What a temerity!  

Are you surprised that believers who are moved by what they see instead of the word of God are always victims of defeat and failure.  

PRAYER:

Father Lord, I refuse to be intimidated by giants on my way today and always.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

PSALMS 110-114, 1 CORINTHIANS 11:1-16